Insert retainer for retaining pencils pens and the like

ABSTRACT

AN INSERT FOR USE IN A POUCH OR CASE WHICH IS CAPABLE OF RETAINING PENS, PENCIL, AND OTHER UTILITY EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE POUCH OR CASE IS DESCRIBED. THE INSERT IS COMPRISED OF A FOAM RUBBER OR SPONGE LIKE MATERIAL WHICH IS RETAINED IN A RIGID PORTION BY A STIFF BACKING MATERIAL. A FURTHER STIFFENTING MEANS IN THE FORM OF A SPRING-LIKE MEMBER IS POSITIONED LATERALLY ACROSS THE BACKING MATERIAL TO PREVENT THE SPONGE FROM COLLAPSING. THE SPONGE MATERIAL IS THEN PLACED IN A POCKET OR CASE AND CLIPPED THERETO BY SUITABLE CLIP MENAS AND PENCIL, PENS AND OTHER ARTICLES ARE RESLIENTLY RETAINED IN THE POCKET POUCH OR CASE BEHIND THE INSERT.

Nov. 16, 1971 D. ROCKWELL INSERT RETAINER FOR RETAINING PENCIL-S, PENS, AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 10, 1969 flaw/a1. 75 0414: 0(060/544 United States Patent Office 3,619,817 Patented Nov. 16, 1971 3,619,817 INSERT RETAINER FOR RETAINING PENCILS, PENS, AND THE LIKE Thomas D. Rockwell, 11147 Lull St., Sun Valley, Calif. 91352 Filed Oct. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 865,236

Int. Cl. A41d 27/00 US. Cl. 2-250 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An insert for use in a pouch or case which is capable of retaining pens, pencils, and other utility equipment within the pouch or case is described. The insert is comprised of a foam rubber or sponge like material which is retained in a rigid position by a stiff backing material. A further stiffening means in the form of a spring-like member is positioned laterally across the backing material to prevent the sponge from collapsing. The sponge material is then placed in a pocket or case and clipped thereto by suitable clip means and pencils, pens and other articles are resiliently retained in the pocket pouch or case behind the insert.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to insert retainers and more particularly to a novel and improved insert apparatus which is capable of being inserted into a pouch or case for retaining pencils, pens and the like therein.

Discussion of the prior art Heretofore, many articles have been manufactured for holding pens, pencils, and other types of apparatus. These articles include means for holding pens and pencils into ones shirt pocket. The most commonly used device, well known to those skilled in the art, is the small spring clip which fits around the top of the pen and pencil and is then attached to the shirt pocket by bearing against the shirt and the pencil. More recently, a plastic insert has been developed which fits within the shirt pocket and is used to place the pens and pencils therein and is provided for the purpose of keeping the shirt pocket clean and preventing tearing thereof. Especially when open lead pencils or the like are placed therein, it prevents marks being made on the shirt. Such a pocket shield or protector is shown, for example, in Pats. Nos. 2,417,786 and 3,371,829. Due to the advent of these pen and pencil holders, a need has developed to retain these pocket inserts into the pocket and also retain the pencils and pens therein without the need for the extra utility pencil clip, which at times has proven burdensome and easily lost because of their small size.

Such an article should be one which is capable of holding the pens and pencils sturdy within the pocket pouch or case without falling out when the wearer happens to lean over or assume a position wherein the pens or pencils might easily fall out, and yet one which is not bothersome or easily lost such as the aforesaid spring clips. Further, the pouch may be of the type which is hung from the belt, such as used by electricians or other technicians, wherein the necessity of providing stability in the accessories which are placed within these accessory pouches is apparent, especially when working in high places and it is desirable that the equipment and accessories not fall from the pocket.

Such an insert should be of the type which will not buckle or fold in the pocket pouch after considerable amount of use and yet retain its rigidity and capability of holding the pencils therein without the aid of the aforesaid clips or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention comprises an insert comprised of a resilient material such as foam rubber, polyurethane foam, sponge, both natural and artificial, and the like. A stiff backing material such as cardboard or stiffened cloth or the like is disposed on one side of the foam material and rigidly affixed thereto. Means in the form of a spring-like stiffening member is deposed laterally across the stiffening material to prevent the foam rubber material from collapsing. A clip may be provided which enables the insert to be securely connected to a shirt pocket, belt, or the like. The insert is then capable of being inserted into a case or pouch which is either fitted onto the shirt pocket or onto a belt placed around the wearers waist or the like.

A feature of the present invention is that pencils, pens, or other tools or equipment may be then placed into the pouch without fear of the articles falling out of the pouch when tilted. The articles are easily slipped into and out of the pouch without the need to take the time to see that they are properly aflixed therein. Such a device is useful for electricians, telephone repairmen, for holding tools into the pouch around their waist, and it is further useful for engineers, students, or the like to retain pencils, pens or the like into their upper shirt pocket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art when taken into consideration with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals indicate like and corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a shirt and a pocket carrying the improved insert in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the improved insert in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective View illustrating the insert of FIGS. 2 and 3 when inserted into a carrying pouch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to a more detailed description of this invention, there is shown in FIG. 1 the pocket insert 10 positioned within a shirt pocket and includes a plurality of pencils, pens, and other similar articles placed within a pocket pouch 16 and substantially behind the insert 10 in accordance with the principles of this invention.

The purpose of the insert 10 is to rigidly hold the articles 14 within the pocket to prevent them from falling out during certain activities of the wearer of the shirt pocket.

Referring to FIG. 2, the insert 10 in accordance with the principles of this invention is illustrated as being substantially square in shape and having a definite thickness as shown in FIG. 3. The insert 10 may preferably be comprised of a foam rubber material, a polyurethane foam, sponges, either natural or synthetic or other similar resilient type material, which is capable of returning to its original shape after being compressed.

The insert 10 is preferabl comprised of two parts, a foam material 20 as shown in FIG. 3, and a relatively stiff backing 22 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The relatively stiff backing 22 may for example be formed of a cardboard material or a cloth material which has been stiffened by being impregnated with a material that solidifies upon drying suchas resin. Such type of stifi'eningmaterials-am? madewit-hout departing from the spirit. and scope thereof.

well known to those skilled in the art, and any suitable type of material may be used, and still remain within the spirit and scope of this invention.

The material 20 may be relatively square in shape to match the physical shape of the insert 10' and the side opposite the backing 22 may be substantially rounded to provide for ease in inserting in and out of the pocket. This keeps the total insert 10 within the pocket relatively smooth shaped and does not provide for bulkiness to the wearer. It should be understood that these physical shapes and sizes may vary in accordance with the needs and still remain within the spirit and scope of this invention.

To assist in preventing the foam material from buckling or curling after a considerable amount of use, and thereby losing its effect, a further stiffening means in the form of the cross member 24 is provided and is adhered to the backing 22 in a suitable manner, such as by glue or the like. The cross member 24 may be placed between the backing 22 and the foam material 20 as shown in FIG. 3 or it may be placed on the outside of the backing 22 as shown in FIG. 2. It is preferable for the cross member 24 to be positioned on the upper part of the insert 10 but is not limited to that position. It has been found that spring steel provides the best eifect in construction of the member 24.

A spring clip 28 is then firmly positioned onto the backing material 22 either in a suitable manner to provide for clipping the insert to the shirt 12 or as provided hereinafter in FIG. 4 to the pocket pencil carrying pouch 30a The spring clip 28 may be directly riveted to the cross member 24 if so desired.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a pocket pencil carrying pouch 30, which is the type well known to those skilled in the art and specifically those described in connection with the prior art. These pouches are readily available on the market. The insert 10 is then placed within the pocket pencil carrying pouch 30 and clipped thereto by the spring clip 28 which is also adapted to be clipped to the outside of the shirt pocket 12.

While there has been shown but one preferred embodiment of this invention, it should be understood that many alterations and modifications of this invention may be What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an article carrying pouch for carrying a variety of utility articles such as pens, pencils, and the like, and an insert therein for maintaining said articles securely in said pouch, said insert including:

means for applying pressure to articles in said pouch so that they bear upon one of the inside walls of said pouch, said pressure applying means being a resilient foam like material shaped to match the shape of the inside of said pouch;

stilfening means for preventing said resilient material from folding or curling in said pouch, said stiffening means being an elongated member of spring steel disposed laterally across said resilient foam like material and being firmly mounted thereto;

means for maintaining said foam like material relatively flat within said pouch, said maintaining means being a sheet of relatively stifi backing material mounted to one side of said resilient foam like material and on the same side as said stiffening means and being attached thereto; and

means for retaining said insert Within said pouch.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, and wherein, said resilient material being tapered whereby said material is thicker at the top of the pouch than at the bottom thereof.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2, and wherein, said stilfening means being a resinous impregnated cloth.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,627,145 5/ 1927 Breed 2245.4 2,058,340 10/1936 Miller 224-286 X 2,321,360 6/1943 Chambers 224-54 3,434,638 3/1969 Beynon 2M-5 X 1,719,244 7/ 1929 Shirk 2-250 ROBERT G. SHERIDAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

24-11 CT; 224-S R 

